The Oppressed English

In the War of to-day, for instance, whenever anything particularly unpleasant or unpopular has to be done—such as holding up neutral mails, or establishing a blacklist of neutral firms trading with the enemy—upon whom does the odium fall? Upon «England»; never upon France, and only occasionally upon Great Britain. The people and press interested thunder against «England's Arrogance.» Again, in the neutral days, when an American newspaper published a pro-British article, Potsdam complained peevishly that the entire American Press was being bribed with «English» gold. A German school teacher is greeted by her infant class with the amiable formula: «Good morning, teacher. Gott strafe England!» (Never «Britain,» as a Scotsman once very rightly complained to me.) On the other hand, when there is any credit going round—say, for the capture of a hitherto impregnable ridge on the Western Front—to whom is that credit assigned? Well, it depends. If the Canadians took the ridge, Canada gets the credit; and the world's press (including the press of London and England generally) pays due tribute to the invincible valour of the men from the Dominions. Or, if a Scottish or Irish regiment took the ridge, the official report from General Headquarters makes appreciative reference to the fact. But how often do we see the phrase: «The ridge was stormed, under heavy fire, by an English regiment?» Practically never. A victory gained by English boys from Devon or Yorkshire appears as a British victory, pure and simple.